Azernews.Az

BAKU - A unique habitat dating back over seven millennia that is unprecedented in Europe has been discovered during archaeological excavations ongoing in an Azerbaijani region with the aid of the world’s leading experts.

The operations are underway in an area referred to as Kamiltepe near a village in the central Agjabadi region.

The research, tackled in the area in the summer of 2009, is spearheaded by Barbara Helwing of the German Archaeological Institute. Along with Azerbaijani and German scholars, the expedition includes up to 20 experts from eight countries.

During the execavations last year, a building made of damp brick was discovered on-site. Researchers found that people used the edifice for public events and religious rites.

According to Helwing, an expertise on soil and other samples allowed to establish the age of the site, which is 5450 b.c.e.

The scale of the exacavations was further expanded. It was established that life was burgeoning here in the 6th millennium b.c.e. Moreover, local culture is closely linked with that of Iran and the regions of the Caspian region.

The German archaeologist said the historical monuments discovered in Kamiltepe differ from other such wonders in Azerbaijan both in terms of their ancient origin and scale.

Helwing also said proper use of the monuments and the local environment would enable boosting the development of tourism in the region. Unmatched in Europe, this historic find will be of interest to Europeans, if promoted.

"The monuments we have date back to the Neolith era. They are mainly timber-made, so there is not much to look at. But what you have is different, it’s interesting. If roads are laid here and tourists could come here, this place could be covered with roofing and shown to everyone. They are plenty of things in Agjabadi that could be fascinating for foreign tourists."

To date, reports have been delivered and articles published at scientific conferences about Kamiltepe in Germany.

Research in the area will run until mid-September this year and will be continued in 2011.